Certified Case Manager Practice Test

What statute is designed to eliminate racial discrimination in child placement?

1. Child Protection Act

2. Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA)

3. Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)

4. Family Reunification Act

The correct answer is: Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA)

The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) is specifically designed to address and eliminate racial discrimination in the placement of children in the child welfare system. Enacted in the early 1990s, MEPA prohibits agencies from denying or delaying the adoption or foster care placement of a child based on the race, color, or national origin of either the child or the prospective adoptive or foster parents. The intent of this statute is to ensure that children, especially those from minority backgrounds, can find stable and loving homes without being subject to discriminatory practices that might favor placement with individuals of the same race or ethnicity over potentially suitable families from different backgrounds. MEPA's focus on promoting equal opportunities for children in the adoption and foster care systems reflects a broader commitment to diversity and inclusion, recognizing that a child's best interests are served by placing them in a nurturing environment rather than strictly adhering to racial or ethnic matches in placements. This legislation works to reduce the prevalence of institutional biases that can affect child placement decisions within the child welfare system, thereby enhancing the likelihood of successful and permanent placements for all children.